It is mandated by the CCs to monitor the quality of internal evaluations carried out by the administration and their application within the decision-making processes.

It assists all parliamentary committees in drawing up evaluation mandates and advises them as to how to politically process the results of such evaluations.

It monitors, on behalf of any
parliamentary committee, the effectiveness of measures taken by the federal authorities.

Legal bases and institutional context of the PCA

The legal bases of the PCA are set out in the Parliament Act (ParlA) and the Parliamentary Administration Ordinance (PAdminO). In particular, article 67, 153 and 156 of the ParlA and article 10 of the PAdminO provide the PCA with substantial rights to information:

The PCA deals directly with all federal authorities, public agencies and other bodies entrusted with tasks by the Confederation and may request from them all relevant documentation and information,

the principle of professional confidentiality does not restrict the authorities’ obligation to provide information,

the PCA may call on the services of experts outside the federal administration, who are therefore granted the necessary rights.

The PCA carries out its scientific activities independently. It works on the basis of mandates on behalf of parliamentary committees.The PCA bases its methods on the standards set by the Swiss Evaluation Society (SEVAL) and international associations which specialise in that area. It coordinates its activities with those of other federal controlling bodies and is in regular contact with universities, private research institutes as well as Swiss and foreign public evaluation bodies.